International Horses You Need to Know For the 2021 Breeders’ Cup

A return to California for the Breeders’ Cup means a return to seeing worldwide raiders who’re hoping to make the most of the agency Del Mar turf Nov. 5-6. This yr, a report 56 worldwide horses had been pre-entered in 11 of the Breeders’ Cup races and will have a powerful presence even after a couple of have been confirmed as staying dwelling – together with the lately retired 2020 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF winner Order of Australia. 

For individuals who aren’t touring to Del Mar, you’ll be able to watch all of the races on NBC’s channels this yr with the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic airing on NBC between 8 and 9 p.m. ET on Saturday. 

As we get set for an exciting Breeders’ Cup week, we’ll introduce you to a couple of internationals based mostly on 4 totally different continents flying to Southern California for the championship occasion.

$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

The Al Shaqab Racing owned Armor has been a constant presence on the European stakes scene all yr. A son of Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash runner-up No Nay Never, he’s been enhancing all yr with a win within the Group 3 Markel Molecomb Stakes at 5 furlongs in July. He was lately second by solely a neck within the Group 2 Wainwright Flying Childers Stakes in September and solely three-quarters of a size from coming into this race as a Group 1 winner when third within the G1 Juddmonte Center Park Stakes. Each his wins have come on the similar distance as this race, so the space needs to be superb.

Extremely regarded in Europe, Go Bears Go threw within the first dangerous efficiency of his profession final day out, however that race needs to be tossed out in terms of betting right here. The Kodi Bear colt was racing at seven furlongs for the primary time and has proved way more efficient on the 5 furlongs of this race and 6 furlongs. He received his profession debut by 1 ½ lengths at this distance and was solely a head away from successful the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on the prestigious Royal Ascot meet, additionally at 5 furlongs. He’s been a constant within the prime European stakes of the yr together with his three stakes losses at six furlongs all coming by one or much less lengths. 

Fillies have a great top-four report within the first three editions of the Juvenile Turf Dash and Quick Suzy is seeking to turn out to be the primary of her intercourse to win it. The filly has two wins to her identify, with one coming when she was on the lead all the way in which in a six-furlong maiden race in Might. However her greatest win got here on the five-furlong distance of this race when beating fellow Juvenile Turf Dash pre-entry Twilight Gleaming within the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. She did run an uncharacteristically dangerous race final out in France, however Fast Suzy was given loads of break day after that race and is once more reducing again to five-eighths of a mile from the three-quarters of a mile she ran there.

$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Hello You has by no means gone the one-mile distance of the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies Turf however she is a Group 2 winner at seven furlongs and has a pedigree that signifies she ought to do properly going a bit of farther. The filly did put in two off-the-board finishes earlier than her Group 2 Unibet Rockfel Stakes win however a kind of was simply 1 ¾ lengths behind fellow Juvenile Fillies Turf pre-entry Mise En Scene and was a greater run than the outcomes present. 

Mise En Scene is calmly raced with simply three begins however two of these are victories going seven furlongs. The filly received her debut by 4 lengths earlier than successful a Group 3 by a neck on the similar distance. Her last begin earlier than this race was a fourth-place end at one mile, however the floor was listed nearly as good to delicate (she had received over good beforehand) so you’ll be able to in all probability cross that out for this race. There may be little or no likelihood she’ll even sniff delicate floor at Del Mar, not to mention run on it within the race.

$2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

A report variety of Japanese entries see their first consultant run within the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Offered by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance this yr in Jasper Great. The colt is coming into this race with only one begin, however that one race was a 10-length domination in early October. Jasper Nice isn’t any stranger to the US — he was bred in Kentucky and is by the late 2016 Breeders’ Cup Basic winner Arrogate. Jasper Nice is a half-brother to California Grade 1 winner Power Broker as properly, so we will anticipate California ought to swimsuit the household. Jasper Nice has already run at 1 1/8 miles so the 1 1/16 miles of the Juvenile needs to be no difficulty. The massive query is that if he’s able to tackle a subject of this caliber after only one, albeit spectacular, begin.

$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Coach Charlie Appleby and Godolphin search for their third win within the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with Albahr and Modern Games. When you watched the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine in September, you’re already aware of Albahr. The two-year-old gelding received that race for his fourth straight victory and second stakes win at a mile. 

Trendy Video games is extra of an unknown in additional methods than one. Additionally by Dubawi, similar to Albahr, Trendy Video games has by no means raced farther than seven-eighths of a mile – although he has a Group 3 win at that distance – and has by no means raced any shorter both. He additionally doesn’t have the expertise of touring like Albahr does, so he’s a bit extra of a wildcard. When you by no means know till they fight, Trendy Video games’ pedigree signifies a mile needs to be inside his scope.  

Aidan O’Brien has solely Glounthaune pre-entered into this race however you’ll be able to by no means depend the Irishman out. O’Brien has 13 Breeders’ Cup winners to his identify and 4 of these are within the Juvenile Turf. Glounthaune isn’t your typical Sadler’s Wells-lined racehorse O’Brien often brings, nevertheless, as he’s by the speedy dash affect Kodiac. O’Brien doesn’t ship except he thinks he can win and Glounthaune does have a Group 3 win at seven furlongs coming into this. Just like a number of others coming into the race, it isn’t recognized if that additional eighth of a mile will pose a problem he can’t conquer. 

$1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

A Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash “Win and You’re In” Problem Sequence race winner final out, A Case of You is now seeking to win on the most important American stage at Del Mar a bit of over a month after his final victory. The primary ever Group 1 winner for coach Adrian McGuiness, he’s now seeking to turn out to be the coach’s first Breeders’ Cup starter. The five-furlong Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines victory was no fluke for the 3-year-old colt. He has hit the board in all however two begins this yr – these each coming at longer distances than the Turf Dash. Amongst his wins are the Group 3 Goffs Lacken by a neck going six furlongs and he was solely a half-length away from successful the five-furlong Derrinstown Stud Flying 5 Stakes two begins again as properly.

Emaraaty Ana received the Group 1 Betfair Dash Cup in September as his last preparation earlier than this begin. The 5-year-old gelding has put in his finest racing season in 2021 with an in depth second within the Group 1 Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes and two thirds in Group 3s as properly. His connections have at all times had excessive expectations of him, the winner of the 2018 Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes, he raced in two mile-long classics in 2019 till his connections determined to maintain him on the dash distances, the place he has excelled. 

Final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash winner Glass Slippers is again to attempt to turn out to be the third two-time winner of this race in its 14 years of working. Now 5, Glass Slippers has raced thrice this yr with third-place finishes in all three begins. That features the identical Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines that she completed second in final yr on her option to successful this race by a half-length at Keeneland. Her finest Timeform ranking this yr is 4 factors decrease than her finest final yr however are just like the scores she was given in a couple of of her races throughout that marketing campaign.

$1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

The Japanese pair of Jasper Prince and Pingxiang are the 2 internationals pre-entered for this yr’s Grime Mile.

A winner of greater than $1 million, Jasper Prince ran in final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint and didn’t honest properly, however he might be stretching out a quarter-mile this yr. The 6-year-old by Violence received his final begin by 1 ½ lengths going seven furlongs, a distance he’s run properly at up to now, however he hasn’t competed in a one-mile race since 2018, so the space is a query mark right here.

Pingxiang might be making his first begin out of Japan within the Breeders’ Cup however he’s aware of touring – he was born in Kentucky and despatched to Japan. The 4-year-old colt comes into the Grime Mile after two stakes victories at seven furlongs and has received three of his 5 2021 races, all at that distance. He almost secured a fourth win when second by a head in January. Similar to his fellow Japanese runner, Pingxiang additionally hasn’t tried a mile, however his constant report at seven furlongs is powerful sufficient to assume it shouldn’t be a lot of a problem. 

$2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf

Final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Audarya is again to hunt a repeat victory in what might be her fifth begin of 2021. The 5-year-old continues to be on the lookout for her first win this yr however almost earned one two begins in the past when simply nosed out by Grand Glory within the Group 1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet. In Audaraya’s final begin, she completed fourth to fellow Filly and Mare Turf entrant Rougir, however that got here on extraordinarily heavy floor so can very seemingly be excused.

Additionally pre-entered within the Breeders’ Cup Turf as her second alternative, Loves Only You has been a world traveler this yr and is ready to run in her fourth nation when she begins within the Filly and Mare Turf. According to 11 prime three finishes in 14 profession begins, the Japanese traditional winner received a Hong Kong Group 1 race two begins again and hasn’t completed worse than prime three in any of her 2021 begins – with none coming in a decrease stage than a Group 2. 

Reina de Mollendo is within the care of coach Kenny McPeek now however the Peruvian runner has but to make a begin in the US. She got here to the U.S. after successful a Group 1 in her former nation at 1 ¼ miles and has proved a flexible racehorse with wins at distances starting from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 ¼ miles from March to June. The filly is the winner of 4 of her six profession begins along with her mixed successful margin sitting at 16 1/4 lengths. She is stretching an eighth of a mile farther than her final begin for this race, however it doesn’t seem like that needs to be a lot of a problem for her.

$2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint

A well-recognized worldwide face is returning to the Breeders’ Cup this yr in Japanese runner Matera Sky. The 7-year-old by Speightstown ran eighth within the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Sprint earlier than opting out of final yr’s race, however he has logged some frequent flier mile since then. This yr he completed runner-up by only a neck in Saudi Arabia in his first 2021 begin earlier than going to Dubai, the place he didn’t discover a lot luck. The horse’s final begin was in August, when he was fifth in Japan however he does have a strong profession report behind him – he has completed within the prime two 16 occasions in 35 profession races. 

$2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF

Three-year-old Master of the Seas was seventh most lately on good-to-soft floor however ought to admire the agency turf he figures to get going a mile at Del Mar. The colt has been calmly raced this yr however that marketing campaign features a win within the Group 3 Bet365 Craven Stakes and lacking out on the Group 1 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas by solely a nostril to just about turn out to be a British traditional winner. A Group 2 winner final yr at seven furlongs, he’s been campaigned strictly at a mile as a 3-year-old and does have class behind him along with his love for agency turf.

Mother Earth was second in final yr’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and appears to go one higher this yr within the Mile. The filly was a helpful juvenile however has come alive this yr with all however her final begin leading to a top-three end. Amongst her seven top-three finishes was a win within the Group 1 QIPCO One Thousand Guineas to start out her yr and a win towards elders within the Group 1 Prix Rothschild in August. She has been campaigned completely in Group 1 races this yr and even when working fifth within the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes final out, she was simply 3 ¼ lengths behind the winner.

The Breeders’ Cup Mile is the primary desire for Queen Supreme, who additionally holds a pre-entry within the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Queen Supreme is an attention-grabbing candidate for each races as a result of she was seventh final out. That stated, that seventh got here in her first begin after 9 months away whereas making the transfer from South Africa to England simply to have the ability to compete within the Breeders’ Cup. That transfer is a sophisticated journey so you’ll be able to very seemingly throw out her final race. The 5-year-old mare received the Group 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes for the second time two begins again and has proved a really completed racehorse in South Africa. A good query to ask although is how the competitors she confronted there matches as much as the Mile runners, as a result of we don’t usually get to see South African runners face Northern Hemisphere runners. 

That is almost definitely the final begin for Space Blues, who has already earned a spot on the Darley stallion roster when he retires. The 5-year-old has been one of many prime European sprinters up to now 15 months and hasn’t tried a mile since April 2019, however when he did, he ran properly. In reality, his maiden victory got here at a mile when he was 2 years outdated and he had a head loss in his different begin on the distance, so it’s undoubtedly in his wheelhouse. He’s a horse jockey William Buick has usually stated is certainly one of his favorites, and House Blues is coming into this race off of two group stakes wins at seven furlongs so he’s price placing in your tickets on this spot. 

$2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff

When you had been a fan of 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Blue Prize, it is best to root for Blue Stripe – she is Blue Prize’s half-sister (similar dam [mother], totally different sire [father]). Blue Stripe comes from Argentina for this race after successful three straight begins in her dwelling nation. These victories embrace a Group 1 win by a head and a Group 2 win by a formidable eight lengths. The 4-year-old is calmly raced with simply six profession begins however her solely two losses had been Group 1 third-place finishes on turf, so she undoubtedly isn’t struggling for expertise. All however certainly one of her begins has come at 1 ¼ miles so she will deal with the Distaff distance, it’s only a query of how she stacks up towards prime North American grime horses.

Japan despatched a big group of horses over for the Breeders’ Cup and Marche Lorraine represents them within the Distaff. The 5-year-old mare comes into the race off of a win in August and has a great report earlier than that with only one off-the-board end in 9 begins since August 2020. Marche Lorraine has raced from 1 1/16 miles to 1 ¼ miles in that time-frame with wins at 4 totally different distances. 

$4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf

A well-recognized identify in U.S. 3-year-old turf races makes his fourth journey over to this nation as Bolshoi Ballet debuts towards elders within the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The three-year-old educated by Aidan O’Brien earned his first Grade 1 this summer time when he made simple work of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes earlier than touring again twice extra for a pair of fourth-place finishes. Outdoors of North America, he’s a two-time Group 3 winner in Eire with these wins coming by a mixed margin of 8 ¼ lengths.

Bolshoi Ballet’s stablemate Love was an attention-grabbing 3-year-old for coach Aidan O’Brien final yr and is seeking to regain a few of that kind this yr. Love received her three 2020 races by a mixed margin of 18 ¼ lengths however has solely discovered a win within the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes in 4 begins this yr. Don’t be fooled although, Love’s “off” kind is stage to many horses’ “on” kind. Her three losses this yr noticed her end second or third, so even when she has misplaced a step, she’s nonetheless one to observe. Love additionally has a pre-entry to the Filly and Mare Turf as her second desire.

Tarnawa was final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner returns searching for a repeat victory. In response to Timeform scores, Tarnawa is even higher this yr than she was a yr in the past. Her lowest determine of 122 in a win this yr is just one level decrease than her highest 2020 determine. The 5-year-old mare received by 6 ½ lengths that day in Eire and has posted two Group 1 seconds since then with each getting increased figures. She was solely three-quarters of a size away from successful each races, together with within the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the crucial prestigious turf races on the earth.

One other worldwide racehorse who has confirmed he can deal with North American racing is Walton Street. The 7-year-old Darley homebred ran his last prep race in Canada, successful the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International by 5 ¾ lengths a month after ending third in a German Group 1. Walton Road has stepped as much as persistently working in stakes this yr and has not embarrassed himself, additionally successful two races in Dubai by a mixed margin of 8 ½ lengths earlier than ending simply 3 ½ lengths again within the Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Basic.

Jockey Membership Derby Invitational Stakes winner Yibir returns to the US to tackle elders for the primary time on this yr’s Breeders’ Cup Turf. The three-year-old gelding has received three of his final 4 begins together with his solely loss approaching good-to-soft floor, one thing he nearly actually received’t encounter at Del Mar. He’s confirmed he can go the space with a number of 1 ½-mile victories and, along with the Derby victory, he additionally has two group stakes wins to make him a possible darkish horse within the race.